Hey, howdy, hey, Lauren! Thanks for coming to planDisney with your question! It sounds like you're in for a magical week, and dining with Pooh and friends at
The Crystal Palace is a fun way to celebrate friendship! Let's jump into the details of navigating your early morning reservation so you won't miss a moment of the fun!
Lauren, as a guest staying offsite, you will arrive to the Magic Kingdom via the Transportation and Ticket Center, but the good news is that it is typically accessible to all guests at least 60 minutes before
Early Theme Park Entry, so if early entry is scheduled for 8:30 AM on the day of your visit, you will be able to park your vehicle at the Transportation and Ticket Center starting around 7:30 AM and then transfer to Magic Kingdom Park via the
Disney Monorail or Disney Ferryboat. If you're arriving using a rideshare service, the drop-off point will also be at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Lauren, once you've arrived at Magic Kingdom Park, typically all guests are allowed to tap in at the same time, which is about 30 minutes before Early Entry. Sometimes Cast Members will direct those with dining reservations to a separate line, but in my recent experience, guests with dining reservations were held at the turnstiles with everyone else until the park was ready to accept guests. Once you've tapped in, you can head right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. to your character dining experience!
Lauren, with all of this in mind, my recommendation would be to plan to arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center around 7 AM to be among the first in the parking lot and to allow yourself enough time to transfer to the park and be in line ahead of your dining time. If you are running a little late, hakuna matata! You're likely among the first reservations of the day and Cast Members usually offer a little flexibility to your dining time as the park opens and guests begin to arrive for the day!
I hope this helps, Lauren, and I hope you enjoy a magical vacation, delicious breakfast, and lots of hugs from Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and Pooh! If you have any other questions, we're always here to help at
planDisney! Come back and see us again real soon!
Magic Awaits,
Alison